Monday 14 March 2016 19:02, UK
Exeter Chiefs centre Michele Campagnaro has been ruled out of Italy's final Six Nations game of the season against Wales on Saturday.
The 23-year-old has a medial knee ligament injury and Giulio Bisegni has therefore been called into the Azzurri squad.
The loss of the influential Campagnaro is another blow to an Italy side who are enduring a miserable tournament.
They were without 14 players due to injury for the match with Ireland in Dublin on Saturday and conceded nine tries as the Irish romped to a 58-15 victory.
And Italy will be further weakened for their Cardiff trip this weekend, which will be head coach Jacques Brunel's final game in charge.
Manager Luigi Troiani said on Monday: "The recovery time for Campagnaro is estimated at 10 to 15 days.
"That's obviously not enough for Saturday's match against Wales, and Giulio Bisegni will join the group this evening."
Lock Marco Fuser was forced off injured against Ireland but is expected to return to full training on Tuesday, while centres Gonzalo Garcia and Luca Morisi are "set for further tests over the next 48 hours", as they continue to nurse knee and thigh injuries respectively.
Brunel will take up the role of forwards coach with Bordeaux-Begles after the Six Nations, leaving the Italy post he has held since late 2011.
Having lost all four of their Six Nations matches to date, Italy are already certain to take the wooden spoon for the 11th time in 17 years, but Troiani says it is imperative that they send Brunel out on a positive note.
"We have to and want to make amends," said Troiani.
"We've been working in the gym and on the pitch since this morning and we're already looking ahead to Wales.
"We want to prepare for this game the best way possible and we're sure we can finish the tournament leaving a good impression of ourselves."
Italy squad:
Forwards: Martin Castrogiovanni, Dario Chistolini, Pietro Ceccarelli, Andrea Lovotti, Matteo Zanusso, Oliviero Fabiani, Davide Giazzon, Valerio Bernabo, Marco Fuser, Quintin Geldenhuys, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Jacopo Sarto, Abraham Steyn, Alessandro Zanni
Backs: Alberto Lucchese, Guglielmo Palazzani, Tommaso Allan, Kelly Haimona, Mattia Bellini, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Castello, Gonzalo Garcia, Luke McLean, Luca Morisi, David Odiete, Andrea Pratichetti, Leonardo Sarto
